Civilpooch

'Mind-reading' Experiment Highlights How Brain Records Memories

ScienceDaily (2009-03-13) -- It may be possible to "read" a person's memories just by looking at brain activity, according to new research. Scientists show that our memories are recorded in regular patterns, a finding which challenges current scientific thinking. Demis Hassabis and Professor Eleanor Maguire at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at UCL (University College London) have previously studied the role of a small area of the brain known as the hippocampus which is crucial...

Friday, 13 March 2009 11:42 | 186 hits |  Email | Read more

12 ways to avoid bias in newspapers

This is a subject dear to my heart: "When all you want is the facts, navigating the newspaper might be a tricky ordeal. Sometimes bias is the result of laziness, and sometimes it's a deliberate attempt to push a particular point of view. Either way, you should always be on the lookout for bias. I liked this rule: 6. What's missing from the article? Is there a source, witness or explanation that has obviously been ignored? Is the "why" unclear? Does the article fail to present the position...

Friday, 20 March 2009 21:15 | 276 hits |  Email | Read more

A day at the SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers

What the first day of the SF/SPCA Acdemy for Dog Trainers is like. This is a course segment designed by instructor John Buginas. See more about Chicken Camp and the academy CTC program.

Sunday, 01 March 2009 20:45 | 310 hits |  Email | Read more

A day at the SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers (Hi Res)

What the first day of the SF/SPCA Acdemy for Dog Trainers is like. This is a course segment designed by instructor John Buginas. The academy is directed by Jean Donaldson. Instructors include John, Janis Bradley, and Gladys Chen. A new session of the Academy starts in July, come join us to become a professional dog trainer. See more about Chicken Camp and the academy CTC program.

Wednesday, 13 May 2009 00:00 | 622 hits |  Email | Read more

A Day in Sequim

This video shows what a day at 'Chicken Camp' is like. All the action is crammed into 6 minutes via time-lapse photography. The camp features Bob Bailey and was held at Legacy Canine in Sequim Washington, hosted by Bill and Terry Ryan. The video was produced by John Buginas, an instructor at the  SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers. John runs a shorter version of this class as part of the Animal Learning section of the Academy program he teaches.  

Sunday, 01 March 2009 20:49 | 451 hits |  Email | Read more

A note to Academy students, friends, and family

Corrected, see highlights My various electronic devices have been beeping steadily and are packed with messages expressing concern about the Academy’s future, and mine. I appreciate your support. I will attempt to personally thank everyone who has contacted me. I will teach in the October Academy, but will move on shortly after that. You've already learned of Jean's and Janis's plans to continue developing new programs as announced in Thursday's Press release. I'm as eager to see what's...

Friday, 02 October 2009 19:39 | 406 hits |  Email | Read more

A training style test

Training challenge idea: Invite trainers of all styles to participate. Trainers must train using the style they profess is the best. Assign trainers a 20x20 square room. Choose four tasks: Sit, Down, Stay, Heel, Come; on verbal cues. Restrictions: No leashes, no restraint. Dogs can be touched, praised, pushed into position. Any kind of training collar permitted, collar can be used as consequence, including correction, but not  as a restraint. Trainer can leave the...

Tuesday, 07 April 2009 21:53 | 434 hits |  Email | Read more

Academy Grad - New Website, Eugene OR

Pleasant Hill, OR, March 09, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Carol Rozek and Sonya Mandel today announced the launch of the Opportunity Barks website. Opportunity Barks, located in Pleasant Hill, Oregon, is a full service doggie day care center, boarding and training facility. Opportunity Barks boasts a state of the art facility, including indoor and outdoor play space, individual rooms for overnight stays, a fully certified staff and individual attention to your canine’s specific needs. Visit...

Monday, 09 March 2009 21:46 | 331 hits |  Email | Read more

Academy Grad Blogs dog Advice

Kelley Filson, SFSPCA Academy Grad, is blogging three days a week at DogTime.com. Muzzles -When & How Should They Be Used? A Basket Muzzle can be used to prevent a dog from biting, but it is not to be used as a replacement for addressing the problem, or for contacting a certified trainer. Follow link to see entire article. More about Kelley below.

Sunday, 01 March 2009 13:43 | 458 hits |  Email | Read more

Academy Grad DVD, Pit Bull Hoax, available

SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers Graduate, Drayon Michaels has produced the The Pit Bull Hoax is an educational DVD. Its intended purpose is to remove existing Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) from the law books and prevent any cities, counties and states from enacting BSL. As of 2009, 41 states have BSL or are considering it in its legislature. Additionally, various insurance companies, housing authorities and other groups have a list of "dangerous dogs" that totals 75 breeds. Featuring...

Monday, 18 May 2009 19:23 | 616 hits |  Email | Read more

Academy Grad Joan Mayer has Inquisitive Canine Column

Academy grad Joan Mayer has a weekly column on NoozeHawk. Joan earned her CTC and was an active participant in the SFSPCA Academy intern progah. Her columns subjects ranging from health to aggression. Here's a link to a recent column about a rude and jumpy dog; and a link to an index of the columns. Mayer  has a great article that answers the question: Can affection confuse the family pet? This article corrects the misinformation spread by some popular trainers that affection will harm the...

Saturday, 18 April 2009 11:40 | 346 hits |  Email | Read more

Academy grad nominated for best Best Boarding

http://kcra.cityvoter.com/sierra-dogs/biz/169888 We're competing for the best Boarding. Tell your friends to vote for Sierra Dogs. Sierra Dogs specializes in providing effective, practical solutions to your training and boarding needs for your dog. Services include in-home boarding (no kennel), customized Board & Train , and individual training in your home. All boarding is in-home, located on a beautiful 3-acre property nestled among the trees in the lower Sierra...

Wednesday, 25 February 2009 22:02 | 326 hits |  Email | Read more

Academy grad teaching at local workshop

Almudena Ortiz Cué M.A., CTC is instructing at a T-Touch seminar. T-Touch is a gentle and very effective way of influencing behavior and overall well being in our animal companions by improving the dog’s self-confidence, self-control and by teaching him alternative ways of responding to novel situations and fear induced experiences. In addition, the practice of T-touch gives dog guardians the necessary tools to understand and improve their dog’s anxieties and fear responses.

Wednesday, 18 March 2009 00:00 | 315 hits |  Email | Read more

Academy grads, post your brags

Any graduate of the SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers who wishes to list their site, provide information about  events, or simply brag about  accomplishments, send me information and I'll post and link back to your site. Free of charge. I want to hear about books, seminars, conference presentations, magazine articles, blogs, organizations founded, etc.

Saturday, 21 March 2009 00:00 | 108 hits |  Email | Read more

Academy Graduate Producing Pit Bull Film

Drayton is currently working on a documentary film, titled, "Judging the Innocent", that sets out to debunk common myths about pit bulls and educate the public on basic care and training needs for pit bull type dogs. The film will feature the best and brightest of the professional dog world and includes interviews with Jean Donaldson, Dr. Ian Dunbar, Janis Bradley, Diane Jessup, Jane Berkey and Kate Fraser (Animal Farm Foundation), Karen Delise (author of The Pit Bull Placebo), Dr. Nicholas...

Sunday, 01 March 2009 20:39 | 864 hits |  Email | Read more